Upon further review, rule may need further review

Saturday’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty may not have been incorrect, but it seemed harsh to many.

SEATTLE (AP) — Seemingly everyone has a strong opinion about the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on Washington quarterback Jake Locker after scoring a touchdown in the final seconds against No. 18 BYU.

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham decided to weigh in with his thoughts Monday, two days after giving a reserved response following the Huskies 28-27 loss to the Cougars.

His opinion, like so many others: The refs were wrong.

“I think we all know that was not the right call ... ,” Willingham said. “It’s an opportunity to use discretion and it was not used. The proper judgment was not used. That was not an act of a young man taunting. That was not an unsportmanlike act at all and therefore it should have been viewed in its totality and not just in the letter of the law.”

Locker was flagged after tumbling into the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run with two seconds left in regulation to pull Washington within 28-27, capping a 17-play, 76-yard drive. As he rolled to his feet, Locker threw his hands in the air, sending the ball sailing upward, before beginning to celebrate with his teammates.

“To be totally honest I didn’t even realize I had done it at the time,” Locker said Monday. “I got to the sideline and heard the official say there was an unsportsmanlike penalty and I was like, ‘Who was that on? [They] must have done something stupid.’ Then he said it was on No. 10, and I was like, ‘Gosh, what did I do?’ ”

Officials immediately called a penalty, because, as a point of emphasis for officials this year, Locker violated one part of the excessive celebration rule in the NCAA rule book — throwing the ball in the air.

The penalty was assessed on the extra-point, turning a chip shot into a 35-yard attempt. Kicker Ryan Perkins’ attempt was low and blocked by BYU’s Jan Jorgensen, preserving the Cougars’ victory.

Pac-10 coordinator of football officiating Dave Cutaia agrees that it is a harsh penalty, but fully supported the call based on how the rule is written.

“Every call is a judgment call,” Cutaia said. “[The official] saw the ball thrown very high in the air and made the call. I can’t say the call is incorrect.”

Cutaia would like to see the rule amended, so actions like Locker’s don’t draw as severe a penalty as players who openly taunt the opposition or showboat following plays.

“The rule unfortunately is very specific. ... Perhaps a rule change is in order to make it not so severe,” he said.